Platini discharged, given clean bill of health

UEFA President Michel Platini was discharged from a Johannesburg hospital on Saturday and given a clean bill of health after fainting in a restaurant on Friday night.

UEFA, in a joint statement with world soccer's governing body FIFA, said the former French international would attend Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and Netherlands.

"Michel Platini was released at 9am this morning from the hospital in Johannesburg where he was admitted last night after feeling unwell," the statement said.

"All the medical tests conducted were normal and Mr Platini is looking forward to attending the final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Soccer City stadium."

Earlier, Platini was taken to hospital in Johannesburg on Friday night after fainting in a restaurant, UEFA official William Gaillard said.

"He is fine. He had been suffering from a cold and a bit of flu and he fainted before eating in a restaurant," Gaillard said of the former French international player and coach.

"He is still in hospital now undergoing tests but he is conscious and is fine. It is not true that he has had a heart attack," he added.

A joint FIFA/UEFA statement said that Platini would be kept at the hospital overnight for observation as a precautionary measure.

Gaillard, who is a special advisor to Platini, said the 55-year-old had fainted before eating in the early evening at the Pigalle restaurant in the suburb of Sandton.

"His blood sugar was a little low because he hadn't eaten and had a little fever. He stood up and just fainted.

"All the tests so far have shown there is nothing to worry about.

"I spoke to somebody who was with him in the hospital about five minutes ago and he said Michel was fine," Gaillard added.

The restaurant manager, Johnny Miranda, informed that Platini had complained about feeling unwell and had walked a few steps before fainting.

Platini is one of the greatest players in the history of the sport and helped France win the 1984 European Championship. He was national team coach between 1988 and 1992.